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Graduate case studies

Graduate case studies
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Charlotte - 
Teacher of Languages

Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

About the job

Main responsibilities

teach languages at GCSE and A-Level
Deputy Head of Year
be a form tutor

Typical day

planning and delivering lessons
teaching
listening to and caring for children
attending training sessions
sitting departmental meetings
planning and preparing for Ofsted arrival
planning trips and visits abroad

What do I enjoy about my job?

contact with children and other teachers
feeling respected and trusted
seeing the result of hard work and success of others thanks to you
number of holidays

Challenging aspects

behaviour of students
long working hours
evening work to do at home difficult to juggle with family life
stress due to Ofsted inspections, parents, and observations
workload
early starts

Why did this area of work appeal to me?

desire to teach and to work using languages

Skills/qualifications I use in my job?

languages
self confidence
social and people skills
organisational skills
listening skills
leadership skills

Training I receive as part of my job

inset days
in-school trainings
out of school training offered by different education authorities


Career information

Brief history since leaving University

middle leadership training programme
co-ordinator of languages
deputy head of year

Where do I see myself in the future?

deputy head of the languages department
Head of department
deputy head of school


Advice to students

My piece of advice to students

Be aware of the current financial difficulties and pension schemes which will make the teaching profession more challenging in the future.

Be very informed about the way teachers are now assessed and appraised as bad observations can lead to a freeze in salary (this is the plan for the coming years anyway).


Last updated: 04 Apr 2013